Enduring pain is one kind of suffering ““ watching another having pain that is all consuming is another matter entirely. And when the sufferer is your child ““ most parents would say that they would rather be the one living in that anguish of pain.

How can this be dealt with when it happens to your child? One way is to be angry and assign blame to others, to the cause of the pain and/or even to God. Another way to deal with this pain is to go to the best medical help available in addition to any medications that would be beneficial.

Those who believe in God will turn to Him in prayer”¦putting their trust in Him to be involved in the situation.

Suffering is never something anyone should seek”¦but all will suffer to one degree or another at some time in their lives.

Suffering does not have to be meaningless. God can use your suffering or the suffering of a beloved one to develop Christ-like character. As the NIV states in Romans 5:2b-5 “And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (Underlining added ““ we don”™t rejoice because of those sufferings but we rejoice in our sufferings ““ our hope is in God Who is greater than our sufferings)

Simeon gave a prophecy concerning baby Jesus to Joseph and Mary in the temple. Simeon warned Mary that Jesus would suffer, and because of this Mary also would suffer deep gut-wrenching sorrow.

(NASB) Luke 2:33-35 “And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.

34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “˜Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed ““

35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul ““ to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Suffering will come into most lives in one form or another. How we handle suffering will reveal our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.